Shoe



Patented July 12, 1932 GEORGE H. GILLIS, or .-FITGHBURG, livrAssAoHUsu'rms I SHOE Application aided september 12, 1931. serial no. 562,533.

` The invention relates to a shoe the bottom of which includes an outer sole, an inner ,sole and a shank stiifener interposed between the i shanlrs of the soles the rear end portion of L, the stiffener being connected with the heel end of the outer sole andthe forward end portion with the ball portion of the outer sole.

The ball ,4) fleXure when the wearer of the shoe is Walking,` so that when the forward'end portion is connected as usual by fastening means formed independently ofthe outer sole and driven into the ball portionthereof,the connection fx is liable to be disrupted by the flexur'e,` the forward end of .the stiifener being thus left'in an objectionably loose condition. There is no such liability at the rear end ofthe stiener p... because. this end is connected with the in- Q flexible heel portion of the outer sole so that driven fastening means may beunobjectionably employed as the connection between the rear end portion of the stiffener and the heely end of the outer sole. p One object of the invention is to provide a connection between thel forward `end portion of the stiifener and the ball portion of the outer sole, which isv not open to the` above mentioned objection. V Tothis end I provide 3.5 the fore part of the outer sole with an inseparable portuberance on its inner or upper side adjacent th'e'ball line, said protuberance supporting a portion of the inner sole and having a confining abutment bearing on the g5 forward end portion' of the'shanklstiffener and formed to lcooperate with driven fastening means `constituting the usual connection between the rear end of the stiffener'and the heel end ofthe outer sole,-in preventing 'm displacement of the stiifener in any direction,

the abutment being inseparable fromtheV position toward the toe end of the shoe when'v the outer sole is of an elastic material such as 50 rubber or a composition containing rubber,

portion is subjected Y' to much the forerpart of anzelastic outer solebeing liable to be stretched and caused to'gcreepforf ward when the wearer of the shoe is walking.` To this endv I form the protubera'nceasg a filler of the same material as'theg'sole -and adapted to support the entirel fore part of the inner sole, which is of relatively inextensible material such asleather, the shoe bottom including rigid fastening means connecting the 1, toe portion' of the filler' with the toe portion o0 of the inner sole and preventing longitudinal stretching or forward creeping of the outer sole fore part Aand forward displacement of the abutment which is'located Vat thefrearlend of the filler. n y

y Of theaccom'panying'drawing forming a part of this specification Figurel isajtop plan view of thelpreferred construction of the'l outer sole7 and vshows ay shank' stiii'ener associated-therewith. f

vFigure 2 is a'sectiononlline 2f2tof F ig ureL M i p j 'Figure ris a section on linerjof lFigure.1. U y

` Figure 3a is alviewsimilarY to Figure 3,

\ showing a different formpf the abutment. Y'

l kFigure t isa top plan'view of a sole` diifering from that shown by Figure 1, and a shank'stiffenerassociated therewith. f`

Figuris arvvsectionVv on line 5 5 lof Figure/4., Y y.

' Figure 6 shows in section-portionsof a shoe having the outer solev shown by Figure 1.7; i y Figure 7 isan enlargement of a portion of Figure', v 86 Figure 8 showsinsection:portions of ashoe having the outer sole shown by Figure 41.1;

, Figure 9 is an enlargement of aportion-of Figure 8. f

The same'reference characters indicate the 90 same parts in all ofthe figures. y l Y Referring. first to Figures 1, 2, 3 and6, showing the preferred embodiment Vofthe invention'E 12;A designatesu a molded elastic outer `soleof. rubber, or a. composition containing rubber, provided on its inner side o f its fore part with Stn-inseparable protuberance of the lsaine material, constituting@ l filler 13 formed to support thefore part; of the insole 14s, and occupy the space usually 100 occu ied by a layer of the usual plastic bottom ller. The rear end of the protuberance 13 is located adjacent the ball line of the outer sole', and is provided with a recess designated as a whole by 15 in Figures 2, 3 and 3a. Said recess opens toward the yheel end of the outer sole and is formed to. receive the forward end portionof a shank stiffener 16 when the stiffener is moved forward toward the toe end of the sole. Y e

- The recess 15 hasv walls bearing on both sides and edges, and on the forward vend of the stiffener, as shown by Figures 2, 3 and 30:,

said walls being adapted to hold the s'tiflener` down on the outer sole, and prevent forward endwise movement of the stidener and edgewise movement of its forward endV portion vin either direction.

The protuberance and its recess are adapted to couple the forward end of the stiifener to `the outerl sole muchmore quickly and durably than fastening means such as `cement or stitches employed to connect the stiifener with the outerl sole.. Y Y Y f Y The rea-r end of' thestiifener 16 is secured to the heel. end of the outer sole as'by driven fastening means such as the usual center nail 170 (Fig. 6) driven into the shoe heel 18 and rubber heel 19, and Vengaging the rear end of the stiil'enen Y Y It willbe seen that the walls of the recess 15 :cooperate with'the driven fastening means 1 7() in preventingdisplacement of the stifl'- Y ener in any direction, `andthat the inseparability of the protuberance Yand its abutment 15 from the outer sole prevents all liability of the detachment of the forward end of the stifener from the outer soleby flexure of ,theA

ball portion thereof. e

. The shoe bottom formed by the outer sole, filler,I and inner sole includes rigidy fastening Vmeans connecting the toe portion of the -filler Vwith the ltoe portion of theinner sole so that the leather inner sole which is relatively inextensible, prevents longitudinal forward eX?- tension or creeping of the outer sole and forward displacement of the abutment lfrom its predetermined position.

The creeping of the outersolealso causesV the toe endYthereof to protrude forward abnormally fromV the toe `end of vthe upper 16 which is very objectionable-- Thel rigidfastening means provided for unitingV the toe end of the raised portion or ller tothetoe end of the innersole prevents both theI for# Lward protrusion of theltoe end ofthe outer sole, and the forward ldisplacement of the abutment 15.

I prefer'to embody said rigid fastening Y means in Vrigidwashers 17 (Fig. 6) embedded in the toe end of the raisedjportion or filler,

and headed nails 18 driven into the outer sole through the washer and intothe inner'sole, andclinched'on the latter. There may be the Walls of the'recess 15. Thek top surface` of the protuberance 15a supports a minor portion of the inner .sole fore part and is preferably convex and has a substantially semicircular marginal portion merging. into the inner side of the outer sole 12a. YIf the solelQa is apart of a welt shoe, a. laye-r 19 of the kusual bottom filler may be, applied to the inner side of the outer Sole foref part in position to, support the major lportion ofthe forerpart'ofthe inner sole 14 as shownby Figures. 8 and 9,.

I reserve the right tomake the sole and its protuberance of any suitable material not necessarilyl elastic. Y Whenthe outer sole is ofr molded elastic material the forward end of the stiiiener may be molded inthe protuberance, the stiflener end shaping the abutment.

The shoe may include the usual welt 20, inseam stitches 21 securing the welt to the upperand inner sole, and outseam stitchesV 22 securing kthe welt tov the outer sole. When the 'outer sole 12a is made of molded elastic material its toe portion maybe provided with washers 1 7` engaging the -f heads. of nails 1 8 Vdriven into the inner sole as shownbyFigures8and9fV Y Iclaimz' E s Y 1. outer so e of elastic materialfhaving lon its upper side an inseparable protuber- 'ance ofthe same material, formed yas a filler having a marginal edge spaced from the marginl of the outer sole fore part byv a welt seat, the yrear end of said filler being provided with a confining abutment formed to bear on the forward end portion of a vshank sti'ener associated with the shanlriportionof thesole,

the toe end of the filler being provided with rigid washers embedded therein for thepurpose specified.

2. Ashoerwhose bottom includes an vouter sole, an inner sole, and a shank stifl'ener interposed between the Shanks of the soles,vv they l rear end. of the stiffener beingy securedby fastening means to the'heel'end of the-outer sole, the outer solev having a confining abutment fixed thereto andformed to contact only with external' surfacepor-tions of the forinnersole to prevent longitudinal stretching iso Y of the fore part and forward displacement of the said abutment.

3. A shoe whose bottom includes an outer sole, an inner sole, and a shank stiifener interposed between the shanks of the soles, the rear end of the stiffener being secured byfastening means to the heel end of the outer sole, the fore part of the outer sole having an inseparable protuberance adjacent the ball line, and projecting above its inner sidel to' support a portion of the inner sole fore part, said protuberance having a recess opening toward the heel end and receiving an end portion of the stiifener, the recess having walls bearing on both sides and edges, and on the forward end of the stiffener, so that a stiifener whose opposite end is attached as usual to the heel end of the outer sole, is inseparable at its front end from the ball portion of said sole by fl'eXure of said ball portion.

4. A shoe whose bottom includes an outer sole, an inner sole, and a shank stifener interposed between the shanks of the soles, the rear end of the stiffener being secured by fastening means to the heel end ,of the outer` sole, the fore part ofthe outer sole having an inseparable protuberance on its inner side adjacent the ball line, supporting a portion of the inner sole and provided with a conining abutment bearing on the forward end portion of the shank stiffener, and formed to cooperate with the rear end fastening means in preventing displacement of the stiifener in any direction, the abutment being inseparable from the outer sole and preventing liability of detachment of the forward end of the stiffener therefrom by flexure of the ball portion of said sole, the outer solei and its protuberance being of elastic material, the protuberance being formed as a fillerhaving a marginal edge face spaced from the margin of the outer sole fore part by a welt seat, the shoe including a welt and inseam and outseam fasteners, the inner sole being of practically ineXtensible material, the shoe bottom including rigid fastening means connecting the toe portion of the ller with lthe toe p0rtion of the inner sole to prevent longitudinal stretching of the outer sole fore part and forward displacement of the said abutment. 5. A shoe whose bottom includes an outer sole, an inner sole, and a shank stiffener interposed between the shanks of the soles, the 1 rear end of the stiifener being secured by fastening means to the heel end of the outer sole, the fore part of the outer sole having an inseparable protuberance on its inner side adjacent the ball line, supporting a portion of the inner sole and provided with a confining abutment bearing on the forward end portion of the shank stiffener, and formed to cooperate with the rear end fastening means in preventing displacement of the stiii'ener ih any direction, the abutment being inseparable from the outer sole and preventing liability of detachment of the forward end of the stiffener therefrom by ii-exure of the ball portion of said sole, the ou-ter sole and itsprotuber' ance being of elastic material, the protuberance being formed as a filler having a marginal yedge face spaced from the margin of the outer sole fore part by Va welt seat, Vthe sho-e including a welt and inseam and outseam fasteners, the inner sole being of prac-4 tically inextensible material, the shoe bottom including rigid'washers embedded in the toe.

'asv

end'of the ller and headed nails driven into the outer sole, the washers, the filler, and the toe portion of the inner sole, the nail heads with and with the inner sole in preventing longitudinal stretching of the outer sole forev` In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

Y GEORGE j H. GILLIS.`

eo abutting the washers and cooperating there- 

